Report: Kharitonov-Mizuno Tapped for ‘Dynamite’

Despite being knocked out just a week ago at the K-1 World Grand
Prix 2010 Final, sambo specialist Sergei
Kharitonov (Pictured) will return to the ring to face Dream
veteran Tatsuya
Mizuno at “Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010” on Dec. 31 at
the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

The matchup was first reported by MMAFighting.com on Friday, and
HDNet, the network which will broadcast Dynamite stateside, later
posted the report to its Web site. K-1 parent company Fighting and
Entertainment Group has not yet made the bout official.

His KO loss under K-1 rules notwithstanding, Kharitonov has won
three of his last four MMA contests. The Russian holds victories
over UFC veteran Mike Russow
and current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair
Overeem in that span. His lone blemish in the last three years
came in his most recent fight, where he was submitted by American
Top Team grappler Jeff Monson
with a north-south choke at Dream 8 in 2009.

Mizuno is fresh off a one-sided defeat at the hands Gegard
Mousasi in the final of Dream’s light heavyweight grand prix in
September. Prior to that loss, he had run off three straight
victories, including an improbable knockout over Dutch destroyer
Melvin
Manhoef in the tournament’s semi-final. Mizuno is a veteran of
M-1 and Shooto and has won all of his fights by either knockout or
submission.